GRANTS IN ACTION: Community Living Kincardine
Community Living Kincardine and District’s (CLKD) ‘All Kids Can Play’ project is leading the charge to make children’s recreation activities more inclusive in Grey Bruce. With a specific focus on the communities of Kincardine and Saugeen Shores, the project provides training and resources that coaches, volunteers, recreation leaders, municipal staff, small business owners and parents can use to make their recreation programs more inclusive and welcoming to children of all abilities.
“Often, the biggest barrier that prevents children with disabilities from participating in mainstream recreation programs is not their disability – but a lack of understanding of how to include them, and limited awareness of what accessibility barriers may exist” says Catherine Evans, Communications and Marketing Coordinator at CLKD. “There is an attitude that children with disabilities are better served in segregated programs rather than participating alongside their peers.”
During training sessions, participants gain a stronger understanding of inclusion in recreation, learn practical tips and strategies for creating flexible and accessible environments, and tools for dealing with potential challenges. Participants also receive comprehensive resource packages, templates, and sample handouts to refer back to or pass on to fellow recreation leaders.
‘All Kids Can Play’ has been an overwhelming success in Kincardine. “The workshop had a different perspective than what I would have learned in [other] inclusion topic sessions” says one participant. “It changed how I thought about inclusion.”
The program is a joint initiative between CLKD’s Family Support Department and Whitney Bonnet of Grey Bruce Inclusive Playgroup and was funded by Community Foundation Grey Bruce’s 2022 Kids Can Play grant stream. The stream was created after a noticeable drop in child and youth focused recreation projects during the COVID-19 pandemic.
For more information on how you can support local charities and non-profits that encourage the well-being of children and youth, visit our donor information page or call our office at 519-371-7203.